Hurricane Delta strengthens to category 4 5:43
(CNN) -
Hurricane Delta has intensified rapidly over the past 24 hours and is now a Category 4 hurricane. Delta has winds of 204 km / h, making it a major hurricane, according to data from a Hurricane Hunter aircraft. .
Delta is likely to continue to strengthen until it reaches the Yucatan Peninsula tonight.
Tropical Cyclone Delta now presents a significant and immediate danger to the popular tourist destinations of Cancun, Cozumel and Playa del Carmen, which are directly in the path of the storm.
The maximum sustained winds from Hurricane Delta have increased by 112 km / h between Monday and Tuesday morning.
Further intensification is expected today as the storm approaches the Yucatan Peninsula.
The way of Delta
It is expected to make landfall near Cancun on Wednesday morning, likely as a powerful Category 4 storm with winds of 225 km / h or more.
Conditions will begin to deteriorate later tonight, with the worst of the wind, rain and storm surge between 4 a.m. and 10 a.m. ET.
A hurricane warning was posted for the northern region of the Yucatan Peninsula, north of Tulum, including Cozumel, Cancun, and Playa del Carmen.
In the last 100 years, six hurricanes have struck 80 km from Cancun.
Only two of them have been major hurricanes (Category 3 and above).
Hurricane Gilbert struck near Cancun in 1988 as a severe Category 5 hurricane with winds of 257 km / h and Hurricane Wilma in 2005 also struck near Cancun with winds of 210 km / h, making it a Category 5 hurricane. 4. Both are legendary hurricanes that caused catastrophic damage to the region.
